Daily GK Updates - 2nd August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. KABIL set up to ensure the supply of critical Minerals to the Indian domestic market: A joint venture company Khanij Bidesh India limited (KABIL) has been set up with the participation of three Central Public Sector Enterprises, CPSEs to ensure supply of critical Minerals to Indian domestic market. These CPSEs are National Aluminium Company Limited, Hindustan Copper Limited and Mineral Exploration Company limited. The agreement was signed in the presence of Minister of Coal and Mines Prahalad Joshi in New Delhi. The newly set up company will ensure supply of Lithium and Cobalt which is available in less quantity in the country.

2. BIS to set up Pashmina testing centre in Leh: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in collaboration with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) will work together to promote the pashmina products at the high-level market for the proper value of this fine product of pashmina (Lena-Ladakhi). Ladakh region and parts of Himachal and Kashmir have world-class Pashmina production.

Note: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national Standards Body of India working under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India. It also works as WTO-TBT enquiry point for India; Bureau of Indian Standards Director General: Surina Rajan.

3. Ministry of I&B launches a competition for designing Postage Stamp: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has launched a competition for designing a Postage Stamp along with the First Day Cover to commemorate Golden Jubilee edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI). An interested person may log in to www.mygov.in (MyGov platform) to participate in the competition from 1st August to 15th August 2019. The winner will receive a Certificate of appreciation and travel and hospitality for 2 nights and 3 days to become a part of 50th IFFI. IFFI showcases a collage of the best of contemporary and classic films from around the globe. Golden Jubilee edition of International Film Festival of India will be organised from 20th-28th November 2019 at Goa.

Note: International Film Festival of India (IFFI) started way back in 1952, is an ‘A’ grade film festival accredited to the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) and is one of the oldest and most prestigious festivals in Asia. IFFI is organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in collaboration with Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), Government of Goa.

4. One Nation-one Ration Card scheme implemented on a pilot basis in four States: The Union Government has launched the One Nation-One Ration Card scheme on a pilot basis in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Families who have food security cards can buy subsidized rice and wheat from any ration shop in these states. Their ration cards should be linked with Aadhar Number to avail this service.

Note: The Union Government plans to extend the One nation one ration card scheme to all the states by August 2020 to enable the portability of the food security card; Minister of Food Processing Industries: Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

5. West Bengal launches awareness campaign ‘Save Green, Stay Clean’: The West Bengal Government has launched an awareness campaign ‘Save Green, Stay Clean’ for preserving the greenery and keeping the environment clean. The State Government will distribute more than 1 lakh saplings throughout the state for spreading of greenery.

Note: CM of West Bengal: Mamta Banerjee; Governor: Jagdeep Dhankar.

6. 143rd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya: 143rd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya celebrates on 2nd of August. Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter and the designer of the flag on which the Indian national flag was based was born on this day in 1876, near Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Venkayya's design for the National Flag was finally approved by Mahatama Gandhi in a Congress meeting in Vijayawada in 1921. A postage stamp was issued to commemorate him in 2009.

7. Free electricity for Delhiites using up to 200 units: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced free electricity for people consuming up to 200 units under a domestic connection(from 1st August 2019.) In Delhi, people who consume up to 200 units will not have to pay electricity bills. Those consuming 201-400 units of electricity will get about 50% subsidy.

8. Guruprasad Mohapatra takes charge as DPIIT secretary: IAS Officer Guruprasad Mohapatra assumed charge as the secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Prior to taking over as secretary of DPIIT, he served as chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).  Mohapatra replaces Ramesh Abhishek, who has retired.

9. Ravi Capoor assumes Charge as Secretary Textiles: Ravi Capoor, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed charge of the office of Secretary, Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi. Ravi Capoor has vast experience of working in international agencies like the World Bank, European Union, United Nations, Department for International Development in the Primary Education Project with Government of India.

10. IIT-KGP researchers develop tech for solid waste management: A research team at IIT Kharagpur has developed a technology which can generate energy from solid waste with high moisture content. The new technology Hydro Thermal Carbonization (HTC) can convert municipal solid waste to biofuel, soil amendment and absorbents. These processes require high energy input to combust municipal solid waste generated in India which has high moisture content due to tropical weather, open collection systems and mixed waste. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, UK launch clean air initiative in Bengaluru: The Innovating for Clean Air (IfCA), is a UK-India joint initiative providing Indian and UK stakeholders opportunities to test interventions related to air quality and EV integration, was launched in Bengaluru. This initiative provides a unique measurement system for air quality by integrating satellite and sensor data, and helping to support India's transition to electric vehicles". The programme is led by Innovate UK - part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

2. Atish Dabholkar appointed as the new director of ICTP: Atish Dabholkar, a theoretical physicist from India, has been appointed as the new director of Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. He will succeed Fernando Quevedo, who has led the centre since 2009.

3. President Kovind reaches Guinea: President Ram Nath Kovind has reached the Guinea capital, Conakry on the last leg of his three West African nation visit to Benin, Gambia and Guinea. Mr. Kovind was accorded a warm welcome by President of Guinea Alpha Conde and officials of Indian embassy on his arrival at Conakry International Airport. Guinea is a developing country in the tropical southwestern part of West Africa at the Atlantic Ocean. This is the first-ever state visit by an Indian President to Guinea. During the visit, president conferred with the national order of merit, it is the highest award of guinea by the president Alpha Conde.

Note: Guinea Capital: Conakry; Currency: Guinean franc (GNF); Prime Minister: Ibrahima Kassory Fofana

4. Saudi women can now travel without male guardian's approval: According to official gazette of Saudi Arabia Umm Al Qura, Saudi will allow women to obtain passports and travel abroad without approval from a male "guardian". A passport will be granted to any Saudi national who submits the application. The regulation will be applicable to women over the age of 21 years. Women's rights activists have campaigned for decades against the guardianship system. The decision comes amid a wide-ranging liberalisation drive spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Crisil cuts India's GDP growth forecast to 6.9% for FY 2019-20: Ratings agency CRISIL has cut its forecast for India's GDP growth by 20 basis points for FY 2019-20. It has lowered India's GDP growth to 6.9% from 7.1%.

Note: MD & CEO of CRISIL: Ashu Suyash.

2. India Slips to 7th Spot in Global GDP Rankings of 2018: World Bank: According to the World Bank’s Report, India has been pushed to the 7th place in the global GDP rankings in 2018. In 2017, India had emerged as the 6th largest economy. The US remains the top economy with a GDP of USD 20.5 trillion in 2018. China was the second-largest economy with USD 13.6 trillion, while Japan took third place with USD 5 trillion. India’s GDP was at USD 2.7 trillion in 2018, while UK and France were at USD 2.8 trillion. India still remains the fastest-growing major economy in the world.

Note: Gross domestic product (GDP) is the market value of all final goods and services from a nation in a given year. Countries are sorted by nominal GDP estimates from financial and statistical institutions, which are calculated at market or government official exchange rates.

AWARDS AND HONOURS 

1. Ravish Kumar wins Ramon Magsaysay award 2019: Indian journalist Ravish Kumar has been awarded the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Awardfor “harnessing journalism to give voice to the voiceless”.

The other winners of the award are: Ko Swe Win (Myanmar): He is a human rights defender and the chief editor of Myanmar Now news agency.

Angkhana Neelapajit (Thailand) is human rights activist and a leading human rights defender in Southern Thailand.

Raymundo Pujante Cayabyab (Philippines) is a musician who has served in the music faculty of the University of the Philippines and has conducted free workshops for thousands of students all across the country.

Kim Jong-Ki (South Korea) is an activist working with violence and mental health issues in youth and a South Korean agrarian movement leader who pioneered wasteland cultivation, and strove to demonstrate through his work that life as a farmer can be fulfilling and productive.

Note: The Magsaysay award was started in 1957 and celebrates the memory and leadership example of the former Philippine president Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay. It is given every year to individuals or organisations in Asia who manifest the same selfless service and transformative influence that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader. Ramon Magsaysay Award is regarded as the Asian version of the Nobel Prize. The awardees are presented with a medallion with a right side facing profile image of Ramon Magsaysay along with a certificate.

OBITUARIES

1. Russi Taylor, voice of Minnie Mouse, passes away: Veteran actor Russi Taylor, who voiced Disney's Minnie Mouse for more than 30 years, has passed away. The artiste also lent her voice to roles on other classic TV animated series like "TaleSpin", "The Little Mermaid", "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" and "Kim Possible". Taylor was named a Disney Legend in 2008.